I use all kinds of leaves for mulch and normally dont bother shredding them, especially the oak leaves, since they make a really nice looking mulch; however, I would run a lawn mower over Magnolia leaves, just to make them a little more compact as a mulch.
One may also ask, what pH do magnolias like? A slightly acidic soil is best. Lime or alkaline soils are more difficult for magnolias but, while nothing will grow on pure chalk, many Magnolia stellata and Magnolia soulangeana varieties grow perfectly well on phs of 7 as opposed to the optimum 5.5 – 6.5.
Then, what are magnolia leaves good for?
They can insulate the root zone of our plants, conserve moisture, moderate the root zone temperature, suppress weed growth and keep the clay soil from crusting over in summer. However, we need to be careful in how we actually apply the leaves to our bed areas to make sure we get the greatest benefit.
Why are the leaves on my magnolia tree turning yellow?
Leaf discoloration can sometimes be caused by nutrient deficiencies or chemical imbalances in the soil. Iron deficiency is a common cause of yellowing leaves in magnolias. If your soil has a high pH level, which makes iron less available, reduce the soil alkalinity using peat moss or another organic fertilizer.
